St. Paul daily globe., 1887-01-19
A WIDOW AND 1OAoHMAN.
The Scandal MOugers of Small
New York Town Accuse Them of
Murder and Criminal Intimacy.

The Scandal MOngers of a Small
New York Town Accuse Them of
Murder and Criminal Intimacy.
DELHI, n. Y, Jan. 1S.-The Hoops
wife-poisoning case, which gave rise to a
sensational trial at the December term of
the county court, and which terminated in
verdict of acquittal of the accused huS-
band, how has sequel in the opening of a
corQners inquest under circumstances i'm
plying strong suspicious that lately de-
ceased conspicuous citizen of this county
was foully done to death by poison. The
investigation is being conducted by Coroner
J. Ii. Baxter and jury summoned by him.
The first step was the eXhumatiOn of the
remains of John w. Griffin, a former large
property owner and respected citizen OF
Hobart, who died as was then supposed, of
natural causes on Dec %, 1885, and the
removal of the stomach and portions of the
intestnes. These were placed in a glass
jar under seal and were sent to an expert
chemist at Albany for analysis. The sur
viYlng widow is a
HANDSOME AND LIVELY BRUNETTE,
who formerly moved in the highest church
and social circles, and possessed fair fame.
uns irched by scandal. In April, 1885, as
she .sStified at the last trial, she became ac-
quainted with Arthur f. Hoops, a coach
man i'll the employ of a neighboring family.
He is well educated and notably good
looking man of 80 years. Prior to Mr.. Grif-
fms death, Hoops was frequent caller at the
house. on one preteXt or another, and the
cordiality between Mrs. Griffin and the
coachman became a subject of remark.
After the husbands death, Hoops having
meantime quit his place as coachman, was
engaged pretty regularly in the fair widows
employ as gardener and overseer of her
landed property, and the relations of the
two became matter of wide notoriety. 1t
was at this stage of affairs and in March
last, while Hoops and his wife, who is a
pretty. mild-mannered young woman, were
boarding at Mrs. Rollins, the alleged at
tempt by the husband to poison his wife
occurred. Somebody. evidently with
deadly intent, mixed cynaide of potassium
with the salt in the dish placed by the side
OF Mrs. Hoops plate at the breakfast table.
The authorities thought they saw motive
for the crime in desire on Hoops part to
rid himself of his wife thai he might marry
the widow Griffin, and he was arrested.
indicted and brought to trial. At the trial
the widow was an interesting and self
possessed and
POSITIVE WITNESS FOR THE DEFENSE,
in repudiating any unlawful intimacy with
the accused man. She added, on cross-eX-
animation, however, that she gave bail for
his appearance for trial because she
thought he was innocent, " and that she had
transferred certain real estate to his leading
counsel, but she denied that the transfer
was in payment of counsel fees. The jury
on the first ballot stood to for acquittal,
and afterward united in verdict of not
guilty, The verdict was not satisfactory to
many minds in the community, and when
Hoops went back direct from the prisoners
dock to the employ of Mrs. Griffin, sus-
picion and scandal were excited to redoubled
intensity. The coroner's inquest now in
progress is the outcome of the state of pub
lie feeling. The col oner has as yet ordered
no arrests, but it is understood that if the
chemists analysis develops the fact that
John w. Griffin was killed by poison, one
or more persons will be called to answer at
the bar of justice for the crime. The
theory is that Mrs. Griffin was to poison her
husband, and Hoops his wife, so that the
widow and the coachman might marry.
The cOachman, by accident, was prevented
from carrying out his part Of the agree
ment.